Naomi Dawn Musch

     Here I am, winding up another year and a lot of terrific reads in 2009. Many a late night hour I wiled away, lost in the company of characters who carried me away from time and place. As a result, a few of those novels stand out in my mind above all the others. They are those books that go with me still, which hold turns of phrase that plant themselves inside my mind, the craftmanship of which I wish to be able to emulate. They are the books that I rate with 4 or 5 stars, 3 being enjoyable, but not quite gripping enough to make this prestigious (at least to my mind and tastes) list.

     With that said, here are my favorite books of 2009. Two of them I honor with five stars -- which is rare in my world. But they truly deserved them for being able to pull me, hold me, and make me forget that I'm a writer, studying structure as I read. Have you read any of them? What did you think? And if not, what was one of your favorites this year?

1. The Frontiersman's Daughter by Laura Frantz, published by Revell.

 This is my kind of tale, set in a period of history which captivates me like no other. Even one of my children bares a middle name for a frontiersman of this era. I really didn't expect to find this kind of riveting storytelling when I picked up the book. I don't know why. Perhaps because I think that 5-star books are so hard to find. But it resonated with me, not only for its truth in history, but also its ability to pull me in deeply with the character and to create a stunning world of harsh beauty which I could see, smell, and nearly touch.

2.  Behold the Dawn by K.M. Weiland, published by Pen for a Sword.

 Another stunner, and a true epic in both cast and quality. The suprising thing about this book set during the third crusade, is that the author created her own publishing company to publish her work. Anyone who thinks that self-publishing doesn't merit attention had better sit up and pay attention to K.M. Weiland. Up until December, hers was the ONLY book on my list to recieve 5 stars.

3. What the Bayou Saw, by Patti Lacy, published by Kregel.

 This book took a gritty look at civil rights as seen through the eyes of a middle-aged college professor whose horrific secrets of years past collide with a tragedy in her present world. Ms. Lacy weaves a story between past and present that is sometimes so poignant, it can leave a reader weeping. As I tend toward historicals, it's a big deal indeed when a (mostly) contemporary story lands 4 stars on my list.

4. Beyond This Moment by Tamera Alexander, published by Bethany House

  This is the final book to recieve 4 stars from me this year. I don't think I've read a Tamera Alexander book I haven't enjoyed. She captivates readers with deep themes woven in romantic settings between less-than-perfect people. It's exactly the reason I read Christian fiction. Writing like hers continues to raise the bar for Christian authors and all those who love good writing.

Obviously, my heart leans toward historical women's fiction. Your bents might be similar or vastly different. If you tend toward thrillers or mysteries, I have to admit that my reading habits fall woefully short in that genre, so feel free to recommend your five star selection. I'd love to hear from you. 

I have to admit that I've always found that bit of Scripture to be a strange expression. Cast your bread upon the waters, and it will return to you after many days...huh? I picture soggy white blobs, bobbing in waves, lapping against a shoreline, while broods of seagulls hover overhead, wondering if it's really something edible.

Yet, despite my personal trouble with the metaphor, it remains an apt reminder that if we try at something, and keep trying, scattering our efforts out across the world, that they will lead to some type or reaping of reward in the end.

As I write this, I have three different manuscripts out for consideration by three different publishers. They may all come bouncing back, as is often the case. But I continue to "cast my bread" because of the hope that one day, rather than opening my email to a kind "Thanks, but no thanks" message, I'll receive a "We'd like to offer you a contract for the amazing piece you've written, sure to go down in history as a work of literature for the ages". Yeah. Well, I can dream. And pray.

Of course, scattering my bread crumbs might not mean publishing, necessarily. In fact, it usually doesn't. But that's not to say I haven't reaped rewards. Some of my rewards have turned up as

• critiques leading to a better manuscript
• contacts which have opened the doors to future submissions
• friendships via the internet that have improved both my life and my writing
• ideas for future stories
• knowing that God is trying to hone me for a future beyond the here and now (It's possible that I'll be widely published in eternity. After all, I really believe that there'll be good work for us to do in heaven, and that it probably won't involve harps.)

Casting my written bread upon the waters of publishing may seem futile at times, or like a good deal of effort. But, I'm convinced that I'm in training, and that I'll be in training until God takes me, even if I live to be 110, and even if I write a best-seller. It may take many days, or few, but all that effort is going to give some kind of a return. I just have to wait for it, and keep on casting.

     I love the title of C. Maggie Woychik's new book, I Run to the Hills -- Reflections on the Christian Journey. Coupled with the book's serene cover design, I was immediately drawn into the idea that I would find in its pages a place of peace and reflection. I did.

     Ms. Woychik's style reminded me of writings long past like those found in Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress, or Hurnard's Hind's Feet and Mountains of Spices. It's devotional depth was reminiscient in style to the writings of Oswald Chambers.

     Okay, those are some pretty big shoes to fill, but Ms. Woychik certainly has the voice for it. Her analogy of a weary sojourner, climbing the Alpine path to discover the true treasure of fellowship with the Mountain Maker lends itself to long reflection and soul-searching. But be forewarned, it's not the sort of book that you sit down and read in a couple of sittings, though it's not a lengthy book. It's the sort of book that you take in small servings and savor for a while, which is is exactly how it was written, over years and through life lessons.

     Not every section of the book spoke to my heart, but that's likely because, as Ms. Woychik points out, our journeys are all different. I particulary loved her chapters that spoke of "The Desert of Duty", and thought that her stark characterization of the differences between duty and love to be especially telling on the dangers of falling into that parched place. She says, "If love doesn't motivate us in our Christian walk, duty will. And duty grows old, cold and unconcerned.Lackluster and lacking in heart, a Christianity driven by duty becomes like any other religion: a list of do's and don't's, powerless and a stumbling block to those around us. Love generates enthusiasm, but duty breeds apathy. A Christian's duty is simply this: to love God with the whole heart and others as ourselves."

     I Run to the Hills talks about the slight wall that separates love from idolatry, and about the perils of becoming Indifferent, Lazy, Unprepared, and Self-Made. It points the way to discern the Voice of Love and the path to Spirit-sensitivity. It gives warning about the Masquerader of the Mountain, because few find their way out of Liscense and Liberty.

     I recommend I Run to the Hills to anyone who is willing to look inwardly on their own Christian journey and who longs for solace along the way.        

What are the qualities of an epic?

     Is it a story vast in scope, carefully woven with life changing themes? Is the plot intricate and involved? In fact, might there be battles, or other dynamic scenes that include large casts? Does it usually involve a journey, both personally, and almost always physically? Do sub-plots grow out of the story and then tighten together toward a climax? Do a large cast of characters eventually become intertwined with one another, even though the main story and point of view is only focused on one or two of them? Is the story beautifully written?

Yes. All of those qualities bare marks of being an epic.

With that in mind,, I consider K.M. Weiland's new release, Behold the Dawn, to be the grandest epic I've read in 2009. I give it 5 stars, something I seldom do for any book. (One of these days I'm going to post my criteria for giving star ratings, since it's such a subjective concept to begin with.)

I search for books like this, sometimes long and hard and with little success at finding them. This is the kind of story that takes a reader far away to exotic locals, and of course, into a time long past. Set during the Third Crusade, Behold the Dawn is a story of a tournied knight guarding devastating secrets, of a Lady rescued from a blighted past and a present peril, and of friends and enemies with much to gain, and even more to lose. It is a story of sin and vengeance, and a story of hope and redemption.

As a writer, there were several things that especially stood out to me in Ms. Weiland's book.

• The language was eloquent. Even its battle scenes were beautifully written. I point this out because good writing, with appropriate use of language not only suits the time frame of the story and makes reading a delight, but it places the book a notch above, into the realm of the literary.
• The author paid attention to details, whether of place, of plot, of scene, or of voice and characterization. The importance of details, especially this being a historical work, were like adding tiny drops of color onto a palet, creating a painting with shadings that make the work dimensional.
• Ms. Weiland knew her characters intimately. They each came with a history, a life lived outside the book, and a story that will continue beyond its end. This was evident in their distinct voices and in the way knowing them drew me into their emotional well-being. They were flawed, yet compelling.
• There were twists and turns and mysteries to be solved. The author uses skill and deftness to keep the reader to turning the pages. 

Ms. Weiland is obviously a student of craft. There are many who sit down to write a story, to weave a tale, to give expression to the characters moving about in their imaginations. But K.M. Weiland has, with her novel, moved into the ranks of master storyteller and as such, we can see how a well-written novel is constructed.

K.M Weiland has now become one of my new favorite authors. As a writer continually looking to improve and hone my craft, I intend to read whatever she publishes in the future. 

     It's been a little over a week since the MUSE Online Writers' Conference concluded (with the strangest - and only - online party I've ever attended), and here at home I just finished wrapping up my requested proposals and getting them sent out. I'm somewhat awed at how the whole process worked.

     If you've never heard of MUSE, you'll be surprised to discover that it's an eclectic writers' conference, held completely online, covering a full week's worth of workshops, forums, chats, and pitch sessions, that happens to be completely FREE.

     The cool thing was that there were over 1000 people registered for MUSE, so there were ample opportunities to make new friends, and especially to learn about other genres outside my own preferred one, all in a comfortable atmosphere of support, learning, and encouragement. Yet, out of those 1000+ attendees, only a handful took advantage of the pitch sessions with various editors and agents.

     These editors and agents were terrific. They took time to chat and answer a myriad of questions about their agencies and publishing houses, as well as about writing and the publishing industry in general. And then, to top it off, they listened to our pitches. And I'm telling you, there were some very respectable folks lined up here, from the smaller, independent publishing houses, to some well-known and highly sought after agents like Chip McGregor and Rachelle Gardner.

     It would take a long time for me to explain how the online aspect worked, but I'll just say that this was my first online conference experience, and that as long as I paid attention to the directions which Lea Schizas, the organizer of the event, carefully kept us abreast of, all went very smooth. I didn't need to be a computer guru to understand, I just had to pay attention.

     We were able sign up for as many workshops and chats as we wished. If, for some reason, we weren't able to make it to the scheduled chat, Lea posted all the transcripts in a file for us to go over when it was convenient for us to do so. As for the forums, like any online community, we could access them at any time, asking questions, posting responses, doing assignments, or just exploring. Many of the workshops gave downloadable hand-outs for us to work off of as well.

     There was so much to absorb in the conference, that it was really impossible to get it all in a week's time. However, because of that, Lea is leaving all the files up on the site for a month so that we can download as many of the workshop and other transcripts as we wish, and save them at home.

     This was such a relaxing way to attend a conference. I mean, how many conferences invite you to sit by a warm fire in your pajamas while you talk about your book to an interested publisher? And they couldn't even see us sweat or shake.

     I found that pitching online was easier for me than pitching face to face. That rattling "nerve factor" was only visible to me, and I felt more at ease putting my pitch in typing than I did into cohesive, spoken sentences. I was able to get the pitch typed out ahead of time exactly as I wanted it, and then just copy and paste. I had a number of answers to potential questions prepared that way ahead of time as well. This method worked really well.

     I wasn't able to attend any other conferences this year. So MUSE gave me the shot in the arm that I needed to keep on writing, and keep on submitting. I'm now waiting to hear back from two different publishers on two different manuscripts. What could be more exciting?

     REGISTER NOW FOR NEXT YEAR'S MUSE ONLINE WRITERS CONFERENCE:

     Deb Kinnard's new book releases today, October 1st, 2009 from Desert Breeze Publishing.

Overview:

     Diane Marshall knows loads -- live loads, dynamic loads, dead loads, all part of life as a construction manager. She's used to carrying hers, as a woman in a man's career. After her boyfriend fell hard for someone else, can her private load get any heavier?

     In DeBrett, Paul Cameron funds the church renovation, so he's assigned to co-manage. Diane is stuck with adjusting to small town life and dealing with a widower who apparently wants a memorial to his lost wife. Paul is stuck working with a person who attracts him -- the last thing he wants.

     Somehow this project will teach them to trust God in a whole new way. Now if they can only figure out how.

Looking Closer:

     I won a copy of Deb's book, and I have to say, first, how thrilled I was not only to win, but to be offered my choice of Deb's books. Of course I chose her newest offering partly because I wanted to be one of the first to read it, and partly because I hadn't yet read anything published by Desert Breeze. I was in investigation mode.

     Angel With a Back Hoe turned out to be a delight to read. Romance is a very defined genre. Romance publishers have very, very specific guidelines which delineate it from other genres, and Deb is a first rate romance author. But, not only did Angel With a Back Hoe fulfill the requirements of the romance genre, it is superbly-crafted in the sense that it is a story layered with character depth and theme. I say this because, unfortunately, there's just enough modern romance out there which lacks these qualities to make us (especially those of us who study craft while we read it) sometimes venture into new territory with a hint of skepticism. We brace ourselves to be disappointed. I suppose the same could be said of any genre, actually; but for some reason romance takes some pretty hard hits this way.

     But Deb's Angel With a Back Hoe isn't lacking in any way. It presents very real characters coming face to face with their own deep insecurities, and she doesn't hold back in research. Deb bit off a pretty big task when she launched her heroine into the man's world of building construction, and she handled it deftly. I felt that Deb knew her way around tools, blueprints and equipment as well as any hard-hatter I might meet on a construction site.

     But what I liked best about the story was the way in which the author wove in the very real truth of how we each have to face our own fears, and misgivings; and how difficult it sometimes is to recognize the good things God has for us when we don't get too headstrong about going in our own direction.

     I must admit that I have a strong penchant for historical fiction, so while reading a modern romance isn't something I do very often, I found reading Angel With a Back Hoe to be an adventurous study in writing for this genre.

     Thanks for the pleasureable read, Deb! I'm so glad I won the book!

     If you'd like to learn more about this new release, Paul and Diane are making special character appearances on The Secret Lives of Characters. Stop by and see what these characters have to say about their lives outside the book and what it was like sharing their story with Deb. http://www.nmusch.blogspot.com .

     We all want to write the next Great American Classic. As writers, it's our job to constantly find new ways to expound on the same, recycled plots. There really is nothing new under the sun, after all.

     The same goes for marketing. We love facebook and shoutlife and all the other myriad social networking sites, and we're sort of learning how to use them to build platforms for ourselves and our stories. But again, we have to figure out what hasn't already been done, or at least, not done to death.

     Frankly, I'm getting tired of author interviews.

     So, I'm trying my hand at what I *hope* is the Next Big Thing.

     Did you ever wonder what the characters of books would have to say if they were able to make guest appearances on The Tonight Show? Would Jay Lenno have them revealing everything that went on behind the scenes on the "set"? Would he ask about what made them tell their stories or take on their roles? Wouldn't  he want them to dish on their directors (authors)?

     These thoughts inspired me to launch a new blog that does provide that opportunity. It's called "The Secret Lives of Characters". On it, I'm giving authors a chance to go back into their characters heads and voices, and tell us more; to go beyond the pages of the books to what came before, or what might be coming after; to see those characters blush over what they did inside the pages, and even to hear villains (if living) reveal their layered personalities.

     I have one guest posting so far, and another coming in a couple of days. I invite you to take a look at this "novel" approach to blogging about books. Come and enjoy a discourse with the characters from Lynnette Bonner's debut novel: Rocky Mountain Oasis, and next week from Cindy Woodsmall's A Hope of Refuge.

     Drop on over at http://www.nmusch.blogspot.com

     Don't forget to leave your comments! Thanks.

Overview:    

     In The Blue Enchantress, the latest in M.L. Tyndall's Charles Towne Belles series, Hope Wescott desires nothing more than to become a true lady. As the daughter of an admiral, that doesn't seem like such a difficult feat, but her insecurities have led her into a lifestyle of promiscuous behavior she has difficulty overcoming. Desiring love and acceptance, Miss Hope has plunged into an illicit affair that places her in the heart of danger.

     Captain Nathaniel Mason's past is shrouded by having been born as the illegitimate offspring of a wayward woman. Now he'd like nothing better than to find wealth, security, and honor ? an ambition that tends him toward a very judgmental nature.

     Nevertheless, he cannot deny his attraction to the kind of woman he most distrusts, and her name is Hope Wescott. After impetuously rescuing Hope off the auction block, they are shipwrecked together on an island along with a mostly obnoxious troupe and discovered by pirates. In the midst of it, they must struggle to put aside their painful pasts in order to find true love, honor, and acceptance.

    Looking Closer:

      Not having read book one, The Red Siren, I could sense that there was backstory I should have liked to know about the characters. Still, I was quickly caught up in the role they had to play in The Blue Enchantress. MaryLu has her grip firmly fastened on the historical detail of sailing the tall ships and the life of sailors in general, and pirates specifically. The story was a romp, if you enjoy a good pirate tale.

     Writers, as a rule, have to fight the urge to create information dumps. The trouble with sequels comes in quelling the desire to re-cap previous stories. Yet MaryLu avoids that trap. She begins her tale at the beginning ? not back in Charles Towne ? but right in the action. And what action! We authors know the power of a good hook. What better hook than to find our heroine being perused on an auction block by a swaggering crowd of lechers, and having the reluctant hero step forward to bargain for her rescue?

     There is a style I tend to dislike in romances that has characters constantly swooning, or "lowering their lips". The romance sometimes just feels a little bit too over-the-top, but lots of readers thrive on that. This story seems to follow the formula pretty well. But like I said, what I most admire is her ability to hook us and reel us on into a story that constantly moves forward, while being packed with a lot of action and adventure.

Overview:

     New Yorker Cara Moore has lead a hard knocks life. Raised in foster care, now a widowed, single parent stuggling against poverty, fear, and being pursued by a relentless stalker, to say that she is hardened and untrusting of others would be an understatement. That is, until fragments of memory lead her back to her roots in the Amish settlement of Dry Lake, Pennsylvania. There, childhood friend Ephraim Mast, dares to respond to God's still, small voice telling him to "Be me to her", despite the fact that his community is determined to view Cara as a trouble-maker to be rid of. Ephraim risks losing everything to help Cara uncover the long lost secrets of her past and to build a hope for refuge and a future.

Looking Closer:

     I continue to be surprised at the ongoing interest in Amish romance stories that have cropped up all over the CBA marketplace. The plot is usually woven around the same theme of Englischer / Amish conflicts of interests. Will she join the faith? Will he leave the faith? and so on.

     But I have to commend Cindy, because she has accomplished what editors and agents keep telling us, "Go ahead and tell the same story, but in a fresh, new way." Frankly, I didn't know how the story was going to turn out. Would he leave? Would she stay? The fact that Cindy gave an honest, no-sugar-coating depiction of the Amish as real people with real prejudices and human struggles, was very good to see. The fact that none of the choices that the characters faced came easy struck me as good, honest story-telling.

     Subplots about community members and family strife were seamlessly woven into the story as well, allowing the reader to wonder if we'll get to read their stories. The best kind of teasers.

     I guess the lesson is that just because someone has written something before - you know - been there, done that, there's no reason why we can't tackle the same subject matter if that's what we are passionate about. We just need to strike a fresh angle; go at it with a new twist. Hmmm... maybe there is hope for that manuscript of Beauty and the Beast I have stored in my files.

     Well done, Cindy!

     So many ideas! So little time! With writers having to invest vast numbers of hours promoting their material these days, building a platform, networking, and continue self-educating, not to mention exploring new venues for publishing in this fast-paced, technology driven world of ours, that time has to be measured into given slots, or there ain't nothin' gettin' done.

     And those ideas; they keep coming! Ideas for blog interviews, ideas for reviews, ideas for stories, ideas for contests, ideas for places to submit, ideas for growing a web presence . . . It's all a little bit mind,er -- time -- boggling. Especially if you want to throw a little real life into the mix. You know, cooking dinner, doing the laundry, hanging out with that guy you married and those kids you had. (It's kind of easy to get caught up in virtual verses real living.)You may even have a day job that you have to juggle in there, too.

     So how do you do it? How does it all come together in such a way that you aren't lost in the possiblities, or worse, so overwhelmed that you just waste away the little time you have surfing the web?

     Self-discipline is the first rule of writing. You have to get the ol' butt to stay in the chair for a segment of time. You have to limit the time you spend responding to your emails. And you have to get your shoutlife updates, your tweets, your statuses, and so on, under control.

     It helps me to do my emails and messaging first thing in the morning. I'm best if I only allow myself the time it takes to drink 2 cups of coffee. I'm still in my pajamas. After that, I'm revved up to go outside and do my farm chores.

     After chores, exercises, and a shower, I'm ready to write. But on what? Should I tackle the rewrites to chapter 8? Should I post a new blog? What about that article I've been procrastinating over? I can't do it all, that's for sure. So I have to impose a strict schedule. It's best, when I go to bed at night, to think ahead to which project demands the most attention. I'm a planner. Spontaneity is for my characters. Planning keeps me from wandering all over the place. It keeps me focused and productive.

     When I've finished a goal for the day, THEN I allow myself to tweet or change my statuses on Facebook, or to browse online pictures from my brother-in-law in China. I'm on track.

     Later, if time allows, I go back to more writing. Usually, this time it's on somethine "fun", something that I don't absolutely HAVE to get done. I also use this time to web search publishers, read online articles and newsletters, or go over class notes from the latest ACFW course.

Self-discipline works. Create time slots. Plan ahead. Write on!